Projecting ramp and mating impeller

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus used by one or more players to score points as determined by the location of the impact of their respective projectile within a target area. The game apparatus includes a ramp positioned on a supporting surface and having a guideway with a rounded bottom in an upper surface thereof and laterally spaced projections extending upwardly from the upper surface of the ramp and adapted to support the respective projectile in position to be impelled toward a target, spaced a predetermined distance from the upper end of the ramp, by a striking member rotatable in the groove and manually moved up the ramp and between said projections by a respective player to impell the projectile in selected elevations and directions.

United States Patent Stevenson Oct. 14, 1975 PROJECTING RAMP AND MATING 3,106,399 l0/l963 Bibanofi 273/95 R IMPELLER 3,185,475 5/1965 Miller 124/] 3,190,657 6/1965 Johnson 273/105 R [76] lnventor: Robert L. Stevenson, 7320 W. 87th SL, Overland Park, Kans. 66212 a Examiner Richard J p y 22 Filed; Man 17 1975 Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fishburn, Gold & Litman [21] Appl. No.: 558,830

Related [1.8. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No, 479,282, June 14, A game apparatus used by one or more players to 19741 abandonedscore points as determined by the location of the impact of their respective projectile within a target area. U-S. Cl. The game apparatus includes a ramp positioned on a [51] Int. Cl. upporting urface and having a guideway with a [58] Field of Search 124/1; 273/95 R, 95 rounded bottom in an upper surface thereof and later- 273M011 102 105 R, 105 A ally spaced projections extending upwardly from the upper surface of the ramp and adapted to support the References Cited respective projectile in position to be impelled toward UNITED STATES PATENTS a target, spaced a predetermined distance from the 503,382 8/1893 Myers 273 95 R upper end of the ramp, by a Striking member rotatable 1,935,370 11/1933 Nekuda 273/95 F in the groove and manually moved up the ramp and 2,021,741 ll/l935 Murg 273/95 R between said projections by a respective player to im- 2,327, 43 Flynt.... 273/ 5 R pell the projectile in selected elevations and direc- 2,367,659 2/1968 Lopez 273/95 F tions. 2,688,484 9/l954 Garber.... 273/95 R 3,009,700 11 1961 Dolega 124/1 1 Claim, 7 Drawing g s Sheet 1 of 2 3,912,271

US. Patent Oct.14,1975

US. Patent 00:14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,912,271

PROJECTING This application is a continuation in part of my cpending application Ser. No. 479,282, filed June 14, 1974 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to a game apparatus used by one or more players to score points as determined by the location of the impact of respective projectiles within a target area in response to being impelled towards the target area by a striking member manually moved up a projectile supporting ramp by a respective player.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a game apparatus to be used by one or more players to score points as determined by skill of the respective players in directing a projectile toward a target area; to provide such a game apparatus which is easily assembled for use on lawns, within buildings, on decks or other suitable areas; to provide such a game apparatus which is adapted for use by one individual, a pair of individuals, or for team play; to provide such a game apparatus having projectiles such as balls, a striking member with a shaft, and an inclined member or ramp with a guideway having a rounded bottom for the striking member path for selected inclination and lateral rotation for positioning the face for striking and propelling the ball and impelling same in selected directions and elevations; to provide such a game apparatus which includes members defining target areas with different scoring values and a striking member which is easily maneuverable by a player; to provide such a game apparatus with an inclined guide way with a rounded bottom providing a direction for movement of the striking member and projectile; to provide such a game apparatus which may be played using simple rules which are easily interpreted; to provide such a game apparatus wherein the components thereof may be stored in a minimum of space; and to provide such a game apparatus which is economical to manufacture, durable in construction, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of the specification and include an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features of the same apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game apparatus embodying features of the present invention and shown in a position for use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of one ramp of the game apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one ramp of the game apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and elevational view of one ramp of the game apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a member adapted to designate a center area of one target, the member being shown in an unassembled position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the member shown in a position for placing in a target area.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of an impact portion of a projectile striking member.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a game apparatus used by one or more players (not shown) to score points as determined bythe location of the impact of respective projectiles 2 within respective portions of a target 3. The game apparatus 1 includes a projectile supporting ramp 4 positioned on a supporting surface and having a guideway 5 in an upper surface 6 thereof and laterally spaced projections 7 and 8 extending upwardly from the upper surface 6 of the ramp 4 and adapted to support the respective projectile 2 in position to be impelled toward a target 3 by a projectile striking member 9 manually moved up the ramp 4 by a respective player (not shown).

The projectile supporting ramp 4 is mounted on a suitable supporting surface, such as a lawn, building floor, deck, or the like for supporting the projectile 2 in a position above the supporting surface. In the illustrated structure, the ramp 4 is an elongated generally rectangular member or plank that may be of wood,

plastic or other suitable material. It has upper and lower ends 10 and 11 respectively with the lower end 11 for resting on or in other supporting engagement with the supporting surface. The guideway 5 is formed in the upper surface 6 of the ramp 4 and is illustrated as a groove extending longitudinally of the ramp for the length thereof and having laterally spaced sides and an arcuate bottom such as a portion of a circle in cross section. The ramp 4 has laterally spaced apertures 12 and 13 spaced from the upper end 10 and arranged with one aperture on each side of the guideway 5.

The upper end 10 of the ramp 4 is maintained in a raised position by a support member 14 which may be any suitable structure extending between the supporting surface and the ramp adjacent the upper end 10 thereof. In the illustrated structure, the support member 14 has a base portion 15 wider than the ramp and in engagement with the supporting surface and laterally spaced leg portions 16 and 17 extending upwardly and inwardly from respective opposite ends of the base portion 15. The leg portions 16 and 17 have the projections 7 and 8 respectively integral therewith and extending upwardly through the apertures 12 and 13 respectively and above the ramp. The spacing of the projections is less than the transverse dimension of the projectile 2 and greater than the width of the striking member 9 to thereby position the projectile 2 in the guideway 5 spaced from the upper end 10 of the ramp 4 and permit the striking member to pass therebetween.

Each of the projectiles 2 may be any desired shape, however, the projectiles 2 are illustrated as balls or spheres and may be formed of any conventional resilient material, such as rubber, plastic, or the like. Each projectile 2 may also be formed of a leather or plastic cover over a suitable resilient core.

The target 3 is mounted on the supporting surface and is spaced from the upper end of the ramp 4 a selected distance and the target 3 is constructed to define a plurality of designated portions or areas, as later described, with each of the designated target portions or areas being assigned a specific value for an impact of the projectile 2 scored therein. In the illustrated structure, the target 3 is formed of an elongated flexible member 18 which is arranged to define a periphery of the target 3. The flexible member 18 may be formed of any suitable, durable material adapted to be placed in tension and adapted to being easily bent in a relatively short radius, such as rope, cord, plastic, or the like.

A plurality of mounting members 19 are provided for mounting on the supporting surface and engaging the flexible member 18 to position same to define the periphery of the target 3. The illustrated mounting members 19 each include a spike portion 20 having a pointed lower end adapted to be driven into a lawn or other ground surface, or positioned in a base plate adapted to rest on a floor, deck or other solid surface. The mounting members each have an eye portion 21 at the other or upper end thereof and adapted to have the elongated flexible member 18 threaded therethrough. The eye portion 21 is preferably formed of a round rod to thereby present a minimum interference to the flexible member 18 when extending therethrough and when changing direction of the flexible member 18.

An annular member 22 is positioned within the periphery of the target 3 defined by the elongated flexible member 18 and the mounting members 19. The annular member 22 is positioned to define a center target portion or area 23 within an outer target area 24 positioned between the flexible member 18 and the annular member 22. The annular member 22 is linear in an un assembled position and is sufficiently flexible to be bent into the form of a circle to define the center target area 23. When in the linear or unassembled position, the member 22 has a projection 25 extending from one end thereof and adapted to be received in a suitable recess 26 in the other or opposite end of the member 22. It is to be understood that a plurality of area defining members may be within and spaced from the outer target member 18.

The projectile striking member 9 may be any suitable member movable along the ramp 4 and into engagement with the respective projectile 2 supported on the ramp 4 thereby impelling the projectile 2 into the air and toward the target 3. In the illustrated structure, the projectile striking member 9 is illustrated as an elongated shaft having a handle portion 27 mounted on one end of the elongated shaft and adapted to be gripped by a player. An impact portion or head 28 is mounted on the other end of the elongated shaft and has a point or end with a rounded bottom adapted to fit and be received within the guideway 5 and movable therealong. The impact portion 28 has a face inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the point or end and the face of the impact portion 28 is adapted to strike the projectile 2 positioned between the projections 7 and 8. The striking member 9 may be moved up the ramp 4 in the groove 5 with the shaft at different angles relative to the ramp to present a different angle of the head face to the projectile as shown in the solid and broken lines in FIG. 2 to thereby provide different trajectors of the projectile 2.

The impact portion 28 may be of any suitable construction adapted to impel the projectile 2 toward the target 3 in response to striking the projectile 2 with the impact portion 28. The impact portion 28 may be of solid material or formed of resilient material covered by leather, plastic, or the like. The impact portion '28 has a width less than the spacing between the projectile supporting projections 7 and 8 whereby the player may have a follow-through movement. The transversely curved bottom of the head 28 of the striking member and the curved bottom of the groove or guideway 5 are such that the impact member may be rotated generally about its longitudinal axis or pivoted laterally and the handle or shaft raised and lowered to provide selected inclinations of the face or impact portion 28 and selected lateral slopes thereof whereby the player may strike the projectile and direct the path of flight for desired elevation and lateral deflection from the line of the guideway.

In order to use the game device 1, the ramp 4 is assembled by extending the projections 7 and 8 through the apertures 12 and 13 respectively adjacent the upper end 10 of the ramp 4. The base portion 15 of the support member 14 is positioned on the lawn or other support surface and the lower end 11 of the ramp 4 is positioned at a selected location whereby the guideway 5 in the upper surface 6 of the ramp 4 is aligned with a selected target area. The target 3 is positioned at a se lected spacing from the upper end 10 of the ramp 4. The mounting members 19 are positioned and the spike portions 20 thereof are driven into the lawn or placed in a base plate adapted to rest on a floor, deck or like surface and positioned at the selected position to designate respective corners of the target 3. The flexible member 18 is extended through the eye portion 21 of the mounting members 19. The flexible member 18 preferably has opposite ends thereof tied together at one of the mounting members 19 whereby the flexible member 18 designates the periphery of the target 3. The annular member 22 is formed by bending the elongated flexible member into a position to permit inserting the projection 25 in the recess 26. The annular member 22 is then positioned in the center of the target 3 thereby separating the area defined by the elongated flexible member 18 into the center target area 23 and the outer target area 24. Additional area defining members of similar construction may be positioned within the outer target member 18 to define additional areas within the target 3.

The game may be played by one or more players using a single ramp 4 and a single target 3. However, to increase the speed of play of the game, a second target 30 is assembled and positioned adjacent the upper end 10 of the ramp 4 and a second ramp 31 is positioned on the opposite side of the first target 3. The first target 3 and first ramp 4 are longitudinally aligned with the second target 30 and the second ramp 31 whereby each player or each team has their respective ramp and target.

The game device 1 may be used in any desired manner with suitable rules established for turns and point values as determined by the location of the impact of the respective projectile 2 within the target 3 or 30. In playing the game, a projectile 2 is placed on the respective ramp by a player and positioned forward of the projections 7 and 8 and within the guideway 5. The projectile striking member 9 is positioned with the impact portion 28 within the guideway 5 preferably adjacent the lower end 11 thereof. The elongated shaft is longitudinally aligned with the guideway 5 and thereby with the respective target. The shaft is raised or lowered to change the indirection of the face of the impact portion. it is rotated laterally or about the longitudinal axis to the desired lateral indirection then the impact portion 28 is moved up the guideway 5 and into striking engagement with the projectile 2 positioned in engagement with the projections 7 and 8 to thereby impel same through the air and in the desired direction and elevation or trajectory. This provides a game of skill in the selection of the lateral angle of the face and the inclination to cooperate therewith to impel the projectile in selected varied directions trajectories.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a. a generally rectangular ramp member having an upper side with a longitudinal groove therein extending the length thereof; said groove having a bottom with a transversely arcuate shape; said ramp member being adapted for positioning on a supporting surface;

b. a support member engaged with said ramp member adjacent one end thereof and supporting same in a raised position whereby said ramp member is inclined upwardly toward said one end; said support member having an elongate base extending transversely of said ramp member and for a distance greater than the width of said ramp member and having upwardly and inwardly inclined legs extending from said base;

c. stop projections on the upper portion of said ramp member and spaced from said one end, said stop members having a greater lateral spacing than the width of the groove and upstanding from said ramp member on opposite sides of said groove; said legs of the support member having portions extending through said ramp member and forming the stop projections;

. a projectile having a width greater than the spacing between said stop projections and adapted to be positioned in said groove between said stop projections and said one end of the ramp member, said stop projections retaining said projectile from moving down said ramp member;

. a projectile impelling means movable in said said impelling means being movable in said groove up said ramp member with the shaft at selected inclinations relative to the ramp for selected relative inclination of the inclined face on the inclined face on said head on impact with the projectile and rotatably transversely in said groove generally about the longitudinal axis to vary the trajectory of the flight of the projectile both in elevation and in lateral deflection. 

1. A game apparatus comprising: a. a generally rectangular ramp member having an upper side with a longitudinal groove therein extending the length thereof; said groove having a bottom with a transversely arcuate shape; said ramp member being adapted for positioning on a supporting surface; b. a support member engaged with said ramp member adjacent one end thereof and supporting same in a raised position whereby said ramp member is inclined upwardly toward said one end; said support member having an elongate base extending transversely of said ramp member and for a distance greater than the width of said ramp member and having upwardly and inwardly inclined legs extending from said base; c. stop projections on the upper portion of said ramp member and spaced from said one end, said stop members having a greater lateral spacing than the width of the groove and upstanding from said ramp member on opposite sides of said groove; said legs of the support member having portions extending through said ramp member and forming the stop projections; d. a projectile having a width greater than the spacing between said stop projections and adapted to be positioned in said groove between said stop projections and said one end of the ramp member, said stop projections retaining said projectile from moving down said ramp member; e. a projectile impelling means movable in said groove up said ramp member to strike said projectile and impel same from said ramp member into the air, said impelling means having a head movable in said groove and of less width than the space between said stop projections with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and terminating in a gripping portion, said head having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined face for striking said projectile, said impelling means having a transversely arcuate shaped bottom fitting and rotatable laterally in said groove; f. said impelling means being movable in said groove up said ramp member with the shaft at selected inclinations relative to the ramp for selected relative inclination of the inclined face on the inclined face on said head on impact with the projectile and rotatably transversely in said groove generally about the longitudinal axis to vary the trajectory of the flight of the projectile both in elevation and in lateral deflection. 